June 2017 (Updated 18 January 2018) Fire Safety Policy. Peter Webb, Project Manager Compliance First Choice Homes Oldham Limited

Transcription

1 June 2017 (Updated 18 January 2018) Fire Safety Policy Peter Webb, Project Manager Compliance First Choice Homes Oldham Limited Trusted provider of quality homes, excellent landlord and support services, creating thriving and independent communities

2 Fire Safety Policy Contents 1. What is the purpose of this policy 2 Page 2. Policy Details Roles and Responsibilities Liaison with emergency services Fire Risk Assessment Schedule Evacuation Plans General Precautions Status, monitoring, implementation and interpretation 6 3. Legislative or other Guidelines 6 4. Links to First Choice Homes Strategic Plan 7 Page 1 of 8

3 1. What is the purpose of this Policy? 1.1 First Choice Homes has developed this Fire Policy to ensure that the company can comply with its statutory duties in relation to fire safety to employees, residents and members of the public under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order The objective of this policy is to ensure that First Choice Homes customers, colleagues, visitors and contractors can react safely in the event of a fire and are not placed at risk. 1.3 This policy will provide the structure to ensure that all First Choice Home s properties, shops, communal areas, boiler houses and offices have systems which are safe, well maintained and comply with current legislative requirements and best industry practice in relation to fire safety. 1.4 This policy addresses our obligation under The (Fire Safety) Order that requires First Choice Homes to: Undertake a risk assessment and inspection regime that is compliant with prevailing legislation and, wherever possible, good practice. Maintain passive fire precautions effectively. Ensure contractors adhere to First Choice Home s code of conduct for contractors. Keep sources of ignition and sources of fuel separated. Liaise with residents to ensure fire risk is minimised. Liaise with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to ensure best use of available resources and promote fire awareness. To investigate the causes when fires occur, identify the lessons learnt and record the findings in a place where they can be easily accessed. 1.5 The implementation of the Policy is supported by detailed operational procedures and processes. 2. Policy Details 2.1 Roles and Responsibilities The Board and Chief Executive: The First Choice Homes Board has overall responsibility for the safety of all of the organisations customers, employees and appointed contractors living or working in properties owned or managed by First Choice Homes. The Chief Executive is responsible to the Board for ensuring that the organisation operates safely, and complies with all statutory, legislative and regulatory requirements. In regard to the management of fire the required compliance is detailed in section 3. As part of the responsibilities detailed in this document the Chief Executive will ensure compliance by: Reviewing and agreeing the Policies and Procedures to be implemented by First Choice Homes. Page 2 of 8

4 Ensuring the staffing structure is adequately resourced with competent persons nominated to oversee and manage all works associated with fire compliance in First Choice Home s premises. Ensuring sufficient financial and personnel resources are available to enable those procedures to be implemented and maintained. For these reasons, the Chief Executive is identified as the Responsible Person in regard to the fire safety Leadership Team: The Homes and Investment Director along with others identified elsewhere in this Policy is designated as a Responsible Deputy. As part of the duties required of this designation, the Homes and Investment Director will ensure that a competent person(s) is appointed to manage this service, and that this person(s) implements the agreed procedures To achieve these outcomes, the Homes and Investment Director will also ensure that: The staffing structure and training programmes reflect best practice; That adequate personnel and financial resources are available to support the delivery of the service; and Maintaining an up to date records relating to fire safety Project Manager Compliance and Electrical Compliance Officers: The Project Manager - Compliance and operational staff within the Compliance Team will be responsible for the day to day management of compliance with fire regulations within First Choice Homes. The First Choice Homes Project Manager Compliance will ensure that any person(s) undertaking assessments, training or works occurring in or related to premises owned or managed by First Choice Homes will be deemed competent. The Competent Person(s) does not need to be a direct employee of First Choice Homes; however First Choice Homes must ensure the competency of any external persons, contractors or consultants appointed to this role. First Choice Homes Compliance Officers have day to day responsibility for compliance with procedure and to provide support to the business. The role of the Compliance Officers is to: Formulate and revise First Choice Home s fire safety plan. Conduct audits to ensure that the provisions within the fire safety policy are being enforced to the standard required. Ensure that sufficient information, instruction and training is carried out. Ensure that the fire precautions are maintained effectively. Investigate fires and introduce controls to reduce the risk of such incidents recurring. Appoint a designated deputy (Fire Risk Adviser) to assist and provide cover in any absence. Page 3 of 8

5 2.1.4 Managers: Managers are responsible for the detailed arrangements necessary to manage fire risk within their areas of control. Where contractors are being managed and there is likelihood that fire precautions may be affected, regular monitoring is to be included to ensure these precautions are maintained. All managers are to ensure that: Adequate resources are made available to manage fire risk. All employees receive adequate information, instruction and training. This includes the provision of regular refresher training to maintain skills. They monitor the performance of their subordinates against the policy Employees: All employees of First Choice Homes, irrespective of their position, have a responsibility to: Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be adversely affected by active and/or passive fire precautions, including members of the public, residents, visitors and contractors. Co-operate with First Choice Homes and its managers to enable compliance with this policy and the legal duties it holds. Diligently undertake fire safety work or repairs to ensure that the desired standard of fire precautions are maintained. Remove or reduce hazards that, in their opinion, may present a serious risk of fire. 2.2 Liaison with emergency services First Choice Homes is committed to working with GMFRS to create a safer place to live and work. All new tenancies will be referred to GMFRS to contact and carry out a free home fire safety check. This promotes awareness of fire safety; First Choice Homes will work with the fire service to promote best practice in reducing fire risk Liaison is also a critical part of identifying trends, and working alongside GMFRS should help to develop methods of risk identification and risk reduction. Both parties, First Choice Homes and GMFRS, will share relevant information to reduce fire risk to as low as possible and will include: Provision of a list of all First Choice Homes managed properties. Joint working to enable accurate assessments of risk. Provision of GMFRS training to enhance fire awareness of visiting officers. Sharing of key results of home fire safety checks. Sharing information on fire incidents. 2.3 Fire Risk Assessment Schedule All FRA reviews will be carried out on an annual basis for blocks/communal areas and business premises requiring fire risk assessment The assessments will be completed by a competent person who has received the necessary Institute of Fire Engineers approved fire risk assessor training In addition, a representative sample of assessments completed by First Choice Homes employees will be externally reviewed on an annual basis Following completion of the FRA, the report may include actions and recommended tasks, each action/task will be allocated a due date which is allocated dependent on its circumstances, a low score will have a due date of one year, a medium score of three months and a high score of one month. Page 4 of 8

6 2.3.5 First Choice Homes will ensure that all works recommended are completed in a timely and appropriate manner. 2.4 Evacuation Plans Evacuation plans will be displayed within each of the buildings occupied or managed by First Choice Homes where a direct responsibility for the occupier or resident applies. High, mid and low rise blocks that operate a Stay Put Policy have had this identified as part of the FRA for the specific block. The information to customers in the event of a fire states the following: If Fire Breaks Out In Your Home: Leave the room where the fire is straight away, then close the door. Tell everyone in your home and get them to leave. Close the front door of your flat behind you. Do not stay behind to put the fire out. Call the fire service. Wait outside, away from the building. If You See Or Hear Of A Fire In Another Part Of The Building: The building is designed to contain a fire in the flat where it starts. This means it will usually be safe for you to stay in your own flat if the fire is elsewhere. You must leave immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to by the fire service. If you are in any doubt, get out. 2.5 General Precautions Alarm systems: Where an alarm system is installed, it shall be maintained according to the manufacturer s recommendations Smoke alarms: Every property will be fitted with an appropriately located hardwired smoke alarms; this will normally be the hallway. Where additional risks are identified, additional smoke alarms will be fitted to mitigate this risk. Where a deficiency is identified, a ten year battery operated smoke alarm will be installed and upgraded within the life of the battery. At each change of tenancy the hard wired smoke alarms are tested or installed if they are missing, replaced when, a fault is identified or when the recommended replacement date has passed, this is normally after a period of 10 years. Annually, hard wired smoke alarms are tested during First Choice Home s annual landlords gas safety checks and are replaced when a fault is identified, or when the recommended replacement date has passed Gas: Gas appliances will be serviced and inspected annually. A landlord safety certificate will be obtained for every property. Page 5 of 8

7 2.5.4 Void Works: Void properties will not be passed to let unless: An electrical safety certificate is provided by First Choice Home s electrical contractor. This will ensure that the distribution box and associated circuits are all up to the minimum NICIEC standard. A landlord gas safety certificate has been issued Decorations: Pictures, posters, personal items and other combustible items of furniture are not permitted within communal areas of First Choice Homes properties Fire starters: Known or suspected arsonists may be housed from time to time. In all cases, GMFRS must be notified and consulted on the best precautions to take Home fire safety checks: Home fire safety checks are offered free of charge by GMFRS and will be promoted by First Choice Homes. Any feedback from GMFRS following a home fire safety check will be implemented according to the agreed repairs categories Training: All Colleagues that are involved in any way with fire risk assessment or fire prevention actions are to be trained to a suitable standard as determined by First Choice Home s Health and Safety Manager. All involved Colleagues are to complete fire safety awareness training which will be refreshed every five years, the training is to include: Requirements of fire Causes of fire Hazards presented from fire Types of fuel Sources of ignition Fire detection Firefighting equipment Means of escape Emergency procedure (specific arrangements for the office/location) Colleagues with specific duties, such as fire wardens and fire risk assessors, will be trained to undertake these tasks effectively and competently. 2.6 Status, monitoring, implementation and interpretation This policy has been developed in collaboration with First Choice Homes colleagues working within the Contract and Compliance, Asset Management and Property Care Teams The policy will be reviewed on annual basis and on the introduction of any new legislation or regulatory requirement. Page 6 of 8

8 3. Legislative or other Guidelines 3.1 This policy addresses the following legislation governing fire safety together with good industry practice guidelines: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, particularly section 3:- General duties of employers and self-employed persons other than their employees. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which came into force in October The Housing Act 2004, which introduces the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Building Regulations 2010: Part B: Fire Safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations Electrical Equipment (Safety and Use) Regulations Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations Links to First Choice Homes Strategic Plan 4.1 Landlord: Excellent landlord services Provides for an efficient and effective service. APPROVAL AND REVIEW Lead Officer / Author Peter Webb, Project Manager Compliance Consultation Assistant director of Assets and Investment, Contracts and Compliance Manager, General Manager Property Care Equality Analysis Not applicable Approved by Leadership and Board 5 July 2017 Policy Review The Policy will be reviewed and approved annually by the First Choice Homes Board Electronic File Location S:/FCHO Shared/hsg-general/Policy, Strategy and Assurance/Current Policies Copy available from Joanne Goodall, Governance and Corporate Support Manager VERSION TRACKING Version / Date No 2, 18 January 2018 Version Notes The main change to previous version is to 2.3 FRA Schedule in that an: Appropriately qualified external contractor shall risk assess the tower blocks annually. Representative sample of assessments completed by First Choice Homes employees will be externally reviewed on an annual basis as an additional safeguard Following completion of the FRA the report may include actions and recommended tasks, each action/task will be allocated a due date this which is allocated dependent on its circumstance based on a scale of low, medium and high Page 7 of 8